SCOTTSDALE AFTER DARK: Great dining and entertainment options in Barrett-Jackson’s hometown
October 9, 2020
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by Barbara Toombs
Enjoy fireworks and more during the special Pumpkin Nights event at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, now through October 31 (Photographer: Justin Kriel)
The fun doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down! Barrett-Jackson’s special Fall Auction will see the final gavel of each night fall earlier than you may have been accustomed to in the past – to allow plenty of time to explore all that Scottsdale has to offer at night.
You don’t have to venture far from WestWorld for your evening entertainment to begin. Barrett-Jackson’s Official Host Hotel, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, has a wealth of options to choose from. The resort is hosting a special Pumpkin Nights event September 17 through October 31, with loads of special family activities that include a Pumpkin Patch and adventure area – including a hay maze and campfire pits – on their Jack-O-Lantern Lawn. You can launch a “Lantern of Hope” from the Sunset Beach Pool, book a spa service or join in a Glow Yoga session – but don’t miss the fireworks display at 9 p.m. each night!
The Patio Lounge at Toro Latin Restaurant and Rum Bar.
There are delicious autumn offerings at the resort’s renowned dining spots as well. Visit the Plaza Bar, Bourbon Steak, La Hacienda or Toro and be tempted by fall fare that includes Lager-Braised Schreiner’s Bratwurst, Short Rib Tortellini, Sweet Potato & Chorizo Empanadas and Stuffed Tortilla de Papa. Don’t miss out on their creative seasonal cocktails, either, such as a Spiced Apple or Pumpkin Margarita, Pumpkin Flip or a Snowbird Sour.
Many of Scottsdale’s other notable restaurants are now open for dine-in services (with masks required unless seated at your table). Excellent dinner options in the vicinity of WestWorld can be found at Mastro’s Steakhouse, Mastro’s Ocean Club, Dominick’s Steakhouse, Maggiano’s Little Italy and the Tommy Bahama Restaurant. A bit further south are Toca Madera, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Ocean 44 – and Old Town Scottsdale (a great place for an evening stroll) is home to the acclaimed Barrio Queen.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in the evening. (Photo: Andrew Pielage)
A truly unique evening experience can be found just down the road from WestWorld at Taliesin West – famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory and winter home. The fascinating location will be freshly reopened with new safety measures in place, and you can book an hour-long evening “Insight Tour” on Fridays and Saturdays that provides an intimate visit to Wright’s private quarters and living room, the gracious Garden Room, the Drafting Studio, the Music Pavilion, the Cabaret and more.
You can grab a quick bite to eat and enjoy a movie at the Harkins Scottsdale 101 14 theatres, just a short 5-mile drive west of WestWorld, which reopened at the end of August with enhanced safety protocols in place. Right nearby, you and your friends or family can be players in a real-life adventure game at Escape Room 101. Solve a series of puzzles using clues, hints and strategy to complete the objectives at hand within a set time limit to unveil the secret plot that is hidden in the rooms.
The fountain at Fountain Hills Park as the sun sets. (Photo: Experience Fountain Hills)
For a little outdoor evening fun, consider visiting CrackerJax (only about 4 miles from the auction site), where you can work on your swing at the driving range, perfect your putting game with a round of mini golf, try your driving skills on the go-kart track or swing for the fences in the batting cages.
For peaceful and relaxing way to end your evening, consider driving about 14 miles east of the auction site to Fountain Hills, where you can take a leisurely stroll along the well-lit loop trail that circles the lake at Fountain Hills Park. Be sure to time your visit so you can witness the incredible fountain, which is one of the largest in the world, spouting to 330 feet for 15 minutes at the top of every hour (until 9 p.m.).